Yes Kosher Friendship Rosh Chodesh Educational Series: Hey (ה), Joseph, and the Flow of Giving

by Yes Kosher Friendship

(Edmonton) – The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Hey (ה), represents openness, light, and potential. Its three solid sides and one open side show us that God creates space for us, to act, to choose, and to bring goodness into the world. Divine energy flows through this opening, but it needs our participation to become real. Hey reminds us that spirituality is not only given to us; it requires our conscious choice to step in and make it manifest.

We see this in the Torah with Joseph feeding the Egyptians. Joseph doesn’t just see the famine; he acts decisively. He organizes, plans, and distributes food, turning potential goodness into practical, life sustaining charity. This is the essence of Hey in action: the open side is God’s invitation, and Joseph’s deeds show how we step in to channel that divine light into the world.

Charity, or giving (אריות), is more than handing out resources. It is the combination of divine potential and human action. Hey symbolizes the opening, the chance for light to enter, while Joseph exemplifies stepping into that opening to bring tangible benefit to others.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe teaches that this is not limited to extraordinary events. Every day offers small openings, helping a neighbor, offering a kind word, or supporting someone in need. Each act, like Joseph’s, channels divine light.

Hey calls us to live openly and generously, transforming ordinary moments into holiness, and showing that charity is not only giving, it is participating in God’s flow of goodness into the world. By stepping into the space God leaves for us, we turn everyday actions into opportunities for light and meaning.

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